Tom joined the trade association in 2022, bringing with him 20 years of industry experience and expertise in policy, organic certification, and organic supply chains. Throughout his career, Tom has advanced certification and compliance, successfully managed global supply chains to source over a billion pounds of organic ingredients, and worked closely with diverse brands, growers, and other stakeholders to promote policies that protect and grow the organic sector. As OTA’s co-CEO, Tom leads the association’s regulatory, international, and technical affairs, oversees the development of association programs and products, and is responsible for operations and financial management. Tom has advised the United States Department of Agriculture on organic policy as the chair of the National Organic Standards Board, served on the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, and is currently a member of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee, advising the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative on trade matters.
‘International organic trade is essential for the continued growth of organic agriculture. As new markets emerge and established ones mature, we must work harder to balance oversight and access, while collaborating to maintain integrity, share research and cooperate on promotion.’